Manuel Maramba
Vaughn Magpantay 10-Calazans
Biography and Early Life
Through his life’s work, Fr. Manuel P. Maramba, OSB, brought the music of the Catholic Church closer to the hearts of the Filipino faithful.
The Benedictine monk, who died July 13 at 84 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, was a prolific composer who leaves behind a large body of sacred music that includes the Mass, symphonic works, operas, zarzuelas, songs and chants.
“Father Maramba played an important role in the translation of the music text of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours to Filipino, after extensive research on Filipino culture, values and traditions,” says associate professor Maria Alexandra Chua, Ph.D, of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Conservatory of Music, where Maramba also taught composition and theory.
“He was a child prodigy and musical genius,” adds Chua. “He was a concert pianist, organist, theorist and composer, an advocate of atonality who also brought in Philippine musical forms and structures into this compositions.”
Born July 4, 1936 in Pangasinan, Maramba was only 11 when he gave his first recital on the famed bamboo organ at the St. Joseph Parish church in Las Piñas. He became the official accompanist of the Las Piñas Boys’ Choir at age 14
Manuel Maramba's Educational History
After earning his music degree in piano at the UST Conservatory of Music in the 1950s, Maramba earned a master’s in composition at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, and another master’s in musical performance from Yale University’s School of Music.He joined the Benedictine order in 1962, and entered the priesthood in 1967. He served as parish priest in New Mexico for a time, but devoted himself to music upon his return to the Philippines in 1977.
ACHIEVMENTS AND AWARDS
Maramba, OSB (b. 1936) finished his Bachelor in Music degree in Piano at the UST Conservatory of Music. His musical artistry matured in the Western world’s most formidable musical institutions like Peabody Conservatory where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition and Teacher’s Certificate in Theory; Yale University’s School of Music Master of Musical Arts in Performance; The Kirkenmusikschule in Regensburg, church music; and the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Austria where he studied piano, organ and harpsichord.
Prior to the production of his composition Lord Takayama Ukon, Fr. Maramba already composed two operas: Aba! Sto. Nino and La Naval. His other major composition was “Awakening”, commissioned by the Ballet Philippines; music for the Philippines Ballet Theater’s production of Seven Mansions, a sarswela entitled Ang Sarsuela sa San Salvador, the official hymn of the 1996 National Eucharistic Congress, to mention a few.
Fr. Maramba is a Benedictine monk of the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat. He was also a faculty member of the UST Conservatory of Music, St. Scholastica’s College, and Sta. Isabel College where he taught theory, composition, and piano. Maramba has been honored with the “Outstanding Alumnus” award from both UST and De La Salle University. He was a member of the League of the Filipino Composers and an active member of the Piano Teacher’s guild of the Philippines where he was president for several terms.
Maramba’s contribution to the artistic development of the entire UST Conservatory is priceless. Not only did he mentor future faculty members and administrators, he also established key elements of a standard conservatory, namely, a strong theory and composition department, and a jazz department. He also revived the UST Symphony Orchestra and the UST Symphony Band. Maramba is responsible for establishing current ties between the UST Conservatory of Music and the Cultural Center of the Philippines; because of his initiative, the UST Symphony Orchestra has been a resident orchestra of CCP for several years now.
Compositions and Works
Many of Father Manuel Maramba's Work include religious themed music, usually accompanied by his piano, he also created sheet music to be played for many these 2 videos below are only a few examples of his many compositions
Personal Opinions/Thoughts
In my opinion Father Manuel Maramba was an honest and dutiful man who along with his passion for God, had a passion for music and wanted his music not only to be of beauty but to touch those with the beautiful melodies of Church music that would allow us to be one with God, his melodies and his compositions will not be forgotten and his legacy shall remain with us for centuries, his contributions to the Filipino society such as his help in developing education and his composition and practice of music allow us to remember him fervently.
https://www.facebook.com/NCCAOfficial/photos/ncca-mourns-the-passing-of-rev-fr-manuel-maramba-osb-former-executive-council-me/10157921733790283/